Knight



T. R. McKNIGHT.

VEHICLE AXLE.

APPLICATION mm was 14. 1915.

L3QB 1E5Q lntvntod Jmw I0, 1919.

19 1 20 3ft 20 21 18 as J7? 2 672 for,

THOMAS E. MCKNIGHT, 0F AURORA, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR T0 WESTERN WHEELED SCRAIER COMPANY, OF AURORA, ILLINOIS, A CORIPGRATION OF ILLINOIS.

Patented June 10, 1919..

Application filed June 14,1915. Serial No. 34,021.

1,396,115. Specification of Letters Patent.

To all whom it may concern: jecting portionlet which comprises about one Be it known that I, THOMAS R. M0 half of the sleeve. At one side of this pro- KNIcrrr, acitizenof the United States, and jecting portion there is a bearing 15, and a resident of Aurora, in the county of Kane concentric with such bearing, an indented and State of Illinois, have invented certain curved rack comprising a series of notches new and useful Improvements in Vehicle- 16 and teeth 17 so arranged as to be adapted Axles, ofwhich the following is a specificato mesh with the teeth of a pinion to lock tion, reference being had to theaccompanythe'same against rotation. The purpose of.

ing drawings. I this construction will be hereinafter set My invention relates to vehicle axles, and forth. As shown in Fig. 2, the sleeves has for its object to provide an improved 11-12 are inverted with relation to each pivotal extensible axle especially applicable other, the locking rack carried by the sleeve to grading machines and analogous situa- 11 being nearer the rear end of the machine, tions, but which will also be suitable for use While the corresponding locking rack caron other vehicles. I accomplish this object rie d by. the sleeve 12 is nearer the forward as illustrated in the drawings and as hereend of the machine. 1819 indicate upper inafter described. That which I believe to and lower plates which extend across the be new is set forth in the claims. machine frame and connect the two sleeves In the accompanying drawings, in which 1112, their ends lying in the upper and I have illustrated my improved axle as aplower portlo s of i eves, as s o n in plied to a grading machlne frame, Fig. 1, and being fixedly secured thereto, so

Figure 1 is an enlarged side'elevation of that with said sleeves they form an axle the rear portion of a grading machine, one frame in which the members of the axle are of the axle members being in section, the mounted and in which they slide longitudiwheels not being shown; nally. 2021 indicate the members of the Fig. 2 is a horizontal section on line 22- axle, which are fitted between the plates of Fig. 1; 18-49, one behind the other, as shown in Fig. 3 is a partial vertical cross-section on Figs. 1 and 2. The axle member 20 projects line 33 of Fig. 2; and at one side of the machine and carries a Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section substanwheel 22, and the axle member 21 projects at tially on line 4.4= of Fig. 1, showing one of the other side of the machine and carries a the sleeves Which embrace the axle members wheel 23. Said axle members have racks and through which they move. 2425, respectively, along their outer faces,

Referring to the drawings, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 2. Said 5-6 indicateinve'rted T-bars which confracks overlie and register with the herein stitute the side members or bars of the before-described curved racks carried by the frame of a grading machine, and are consleeves 11--12.

nected by transverse bars 7-8, the latter be The axle frame is pivoted centrally to ing preferably angle-irons, as best shown in swing about a vertical axis and turn the Fig. 2. 910 indicate U-shaped bars or wheels in one direction or the other,26 instirrups, which are secured to the rear end dicating the pivot of said axle frame, which,

.portions of the side bars 56, which they ,as best shown in Fig. 2, passes centrallyunderlie, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. These therethrough and is fitted in suitable bear- 1 stirrups serve to support sleeves 11 12 ings provided in an upper plate 27 extendwhich embrace the axle members hereinafter ing longitudinally of the machine at the cendescribed and through which said axle memter thereof, as shown, and connected with bers move endwise. The preferred shape of the cross-bars 7 and 8, and in a lower plate the sleeves 11-12 is best shown in Figs. 1 or brace 28, which is also connected to the and 4:, from which it will be seen that the cross-bars 78. The pivot 26 extends beinner end of each sleeve is cut away at one tween the axle members 20-21, and preferside, as shown at 13 in Fig. 41, leaving a proably rollers 29 are provided at suitable points to hold the axle members in parallel relation to each other and to facilitate their movement when bein extended or retracted. 30 indicates a reinforcing plate which is provided centrally upon the upper plate 18,

as shown in Fig. 2, and 31 indicates bearing erably Z-shaped, which are secured upon the axle frame as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and provide upper bearings for vertical shafts 3435, respectively, which carry the usual hand-wheels. The lower ends of said shafts are journaled in the bearings 15 in the sleeves 1112. The shafts 3435 carry pinions 3637 which mesh with the racks 2425, respectively, and are also adapted to mesh with the curved racks in the sleeves 11-12 hereinbefore described. The shafts 34-35 are movable vertically sufficiently to disengage the pinions 3637 from the stationary racks in the sleeves without moving them out of mesh with their res )ective racks 2 l25. It will be apparent, t erefore,that

normallythat is to say, when the shafts.

3435 are in their lowermost positionsthey will be locked against rotation by reason of the fact that their respective pinions will be not only in engagement with the racks 2425, but also with the stationary racks carried by the sleeves 11-12. By raising said shafts slightly, however, they may be disengaged from the stationary racks, and said shafts may then be rotated to extend or retract their respective axle members. Thus, either of the axle members may be extended to any desired position, and then be locked in such position by merely allowing the operating shaft thereof to drop into its normal pos1t1on.

For the purpose of angularly adjusting the axle frame and the axle members carried by it, said axle frame is provided with a semicircular bar 88, which extends rearwardly therefrom in a horizontal plane, its forward ends being secured to the sleeves 1112 at the end portions of the axle frame, and carries a curved rack 39 placed at the rearmost portion of said bar. Said rack is preferably secured to the under side of the bar 38 and is adapted to mesh with a pinion 40 carried at the lower end of an upright shaft or rod 41, as best shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The lower end of said shaft 41 is journaled in a suitable bearing provided in a downwardly-bent portion 28 of the member' 28, as shown in Fig. 1, its upper portion being journaled in a suitable bearing in a rearwaidly-projecting baraQ which is connected to the usual operators platform i3. 14- 15 indicate standards which support said platform at the rear. The wheels are locked in their different positions of angular adjustment by means of a locking-pin 46 which passes through a bearing in the bar 42 and through a bearing in a curved locking-plate 47 which is secured to the crossbar 8, as shown in Fig. 2. The lower end of said locking-pin is adapted to project into either of a number of holes48 provided in the curved bar 38, when the desired hole is brought into register with the locking-pin by the swinging of the axle frame. The locking-pin 46 is pressed downward by a spring 49 mounted upon it, as shown in Fig. 1, and is drawn upward into inoperative position by a lever 50 ivoted upon the upper end of said pin a ove the bar 42 and having a cam 51 adjacent to its pivotal point. The sides of said cam are flattened as shown in Fig. 1, so that when the lever 50 is turned to either of its two positions, it will remain in such position. It will be apparent that by merely swinging the lever 50 in one direction or the other, the axle frame may be locked or unlocked as to rotation about its pivot 26.

By the construction described, either or both of the axle members may be extended or retracted without regard to the angular position of such axle members with reference to the frame of the machine, and the axle frame with the axle members may be angularly adjusted withoutregard to the extended or retracted position of the wheels. The stirrups 910 support the axle mem here as they are so adjusted, as has been pointed out.

While my improved axle is primarily in? tended for use on grading machines, it may be employed in other situations, and the claims hereinafter made are therefore to be construed accordingly.

That which I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters atent, is,-

1. The combination with a main frame, of an extensible axle centrally pivoted to the frame, stirrups depending from the sides of the main frame, sleeves embracing the axle and supported by said stirrups, a curved bar having its ends connected to said sleeves, a rack on said bar, and a shaft mounted on the frame and having a pinion engaging the rack whereby through the curved bar and sleeves the axle may be turned about its pivot.

2. The combination with a main frame, of an axle centrally pivoted to the frame and comprising two parallel members movable relative to each other to vary the length of the axle, a curved bar extending concentric with the pivot of the axle and having at its ating with the rack for turning the axle ends sleeves each loosely surrounding both about its pivot.

members of the axle, longitudinally extend- THOMAS R. MGKNIGHT. ing guides on the main frame through which Witnesses:

said Sleeves extend, a rack carried by the WM. D. F OULKE,

curved bar, and a shaft and pinion coiiper- H. A. MCKAY. 

